Rotational scratch-off card surface remover

ABSTRACT

A rotational remover including a body assembly and a tip drive assembly. The body assembly includes a body front containing a convoluted bearing race, a body back which fastens to the body front and a main spring housed within. The tip drive assembly includes a bearing guide having a threaded barrel at the front end which receives a tip, a center section which receives at least three ball bearings and a spring pivot. The ball bearings are housed in the tip drive assembly rolling in the bearing guide and within the convoluted race formed in the body front assembly. The spring pivot is housed in the body assembly between the main spring and the bearing guide. The depression of the body assembly in a vertical movement actuates the ball bearings within the convoluted bearing race, thereby rotating a tip with a serrated, abrasive surface received in the bearing guide in a rotational movement. The main spring provides resistance for and returns the tip drive assembly to a starting position after the body assembly is vertically depressed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention is in the field of scratch-off cards. In particular, the present invention relates to a scratch-off card surface remover used to remove the waxy latex surfaces from lottery game cards.

2. Description of the Related Art

In removing the playing surface on a lottery card, a finger nail, coin or the like is typically used for removal. Unfortunately, when users remove the cards surface with a finger nail, coin or the like, there is a tendency to remove beyond the boundaries of a particular space so that the spaces are often misread because the user mistakenly removes the surface outside of the boundary. Another issue is the amount of time required to completely and accurately remove the surface of lottery card spaces. A further issue is that of effectively and totally removing the surface of the playing spaces of the lottery card. Yet another issue is that when a finger nail, coin or the like is used for removal, the revealed game playing spaces may be scraped beyond recognition.

Finally, when a user scratches off a lottery card, the scratched off wax surface from the card is left behind. It is typically the case that a user must scratch off several areas on a single card, and may even scratch off numerous cards at once. Accordingly, there is a need for a rotational scratch-off card surface remover that noticeably reduces the amount of waste that is created by scratching off each of the spaces on the card.

Accordingly, there is a need for a rotational scratch-off card surface remover used to remove scratch-off playing spaces on a lottery card without making a horizontal motion across the writing surface. There is also a need for a rotational scratch-off card surface remover that can be economically manufactured.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One object of this invention is to provide a rotational remover including a body assembly and a tip drive assembly. The body assembly includes a body front containing a convoluted bearing race, a body back which fastens to the body front and a main spring housed within. The tip drive assembly includes a bearing guide having a threaded barrel at the front end which receives a tip, a center section which receives at least three ball bearings and a spring pivot. The ball bearings are housed in the tip drive assembly rolling in the bearing guide and within the convoluted race formed in the body front assembly. The spring pivot is housed in the body assembly between the main spring and the bearing guide. The depression of the body assembly in a vertical movement actuates the ball bearings within the convoluted bearing race, thereby rotating a tip received in the bearing guide in a rotational movement. The main spring provides resistance for and returns the tip drive assembly to a starting position after the body assembly is vertically depressed.

Another object of this invention is to provide a rotational remover including a body assembly and a tip drive assembly. The body assembly includes a body front containing a convoluted bearing race, a body back which fastens to the body front and a main spring housed within. The tip drive assembly includes a bearing guide having a threaded barrel at the front end which receives a tip, a center section which receives at least three ball bearings and a spring pivot. The ball bearings are housed in the tip drive assembly rolling in the bearing guide and within the convoluted race formed in the body front assembly. The spring pivot is housed in the body assembly between the main spring and the bearing guide, and the depression of the body assembly in a vertical movement actuates the ball bearings within the convoluted bearing race, thereby rotating a tip received in the bearing guide in a rotational movement.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a rotational remover including a body assembly and a tip drive assembly. The body assembly includes a body front containing a convoluted bearing race, a body back which fastens to the body front and a main spring housed within. The tip drive assembly includes a bearing guide having a threaded barrel at the front end which receives a tip, a center section which receives at least three ball bearings and a spring pivot. The ball bearings are housed in the tip drive assembly rolling in the bearing guide and within the convoluted race formed in the body front assembly. The spring pivot is housed in the body assembly between the main spring and the bearing guide, and the depression of the body assembly in a vertical movement actuates the ball bearings within the convoluted bearing race, thereby rotating a tip in a rotational movement.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a rotational scratch-off card surface remover according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention;.

FIG. 2 is an assembly view of a rotational scratch-off card surface remover according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a body back of an orbital eraser and scratch-off card remover according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a body back of rotational scratch-off card surface remover according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a main spring of a rotational scratch-off card surface remover according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a spring pivot of a rotational scratch-off card surface remover according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a ball bearing of a rotational scratch-off card surface remover according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a bearing guide of a rotational scratch-off card surface remover according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a cross sectional view of a bearing guide of a rotational scratch-off card surface remover according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a body front of a rotational scratch-off card surface remover according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of a body front of a rotational scratch-off card surface remover according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a plastic/metal tip of a rotational scratch-off card surface remover according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Rotational Scratch-Off Card Surface Remover

FIGS. 1-2 illustrate a rotational scratch-off card surface remover 1 that includes a body back 2, a main spring 3, a spring pivot 4, a bearing guide 5, three ball bearings 6, a body front 7, and a plastic/metal tip 8. Remover 1 is approximately 5.75 inches in length.

Body back 2 includes a male threaded portion 9. Body back 2 is approximately 3.010 inches in length and is received in a second female threaded end 10 of body front 7. Main spring 3 is approximately 3.215 inches in free length and 2.215 inches compressed. A trio of ball bearings 6 are received in a convoluted race 11 formed in the body front 7. Ball bearings 6 are approximately 0.078 inches in diameter. Convoluted race 11 is formed in the body front 7 and is a left hand triple helix ½ inch pitch that is 1.5 inches in length. Bearing guide 5 houses the trio of ball bearings 6 in indented holes 12 formed in its center section 20. Bearing guide 5 is approximately 2.630 inches in length and has a back nub section 13, at which the forward section 14 of the spring pivot 4 rests. The rear section of the spring pivot 15 is received in the forward section of the main spring 3. The spring pivot 4 is approximately 0.475 inches in length. The plastic/metal tip 8 is approximately 1 inch in length and is located at a second end 16 of remover 1. Tip 8 includes a first end 17 which is approximately 0.500 inches in length and has at its topmost point 21 serrated, abrasive properties for card surface removal and a male threaded second end 18 which is approximately 0.500 inches in length. Threaded second end 18 of tip 8 is received in the female threaded first end 19 of the bearing guide 5. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, tip 8 is a plastic tip manufactured from a variety of grades of plastic. Tip 8 may also be manufactured from metal or any other equivalent material known by one of ordinary skill in the art.

Rotational scratch-off card surface remover 1 removes the surface of a scratch-off lottery game card. Remover 1 is approximately 5.75 inches in length and 0.741 inches in diameter. This width allows for easy gripping and control. A user grasps body front 7 and pushes vertically downward on tip 8 to provide rotation of said tip 8 to remove a card surface.

The user holds remover 1 in a vertical position and places it over the surface to be removed. If pressed once, remover 1 accurately removes a predefined rotational surface area. If the user repeatedly presses down remover 1, a larger surface area will be removed.

As illustrated above, remover includes main spring 3. A user vertically pushes remover 1 to actuate ball bearings 6 housed within bearing guide 5 thus rolling ball bearings 6 in convoluted race 11 formed in body front 7. Ball bearings 3 are contained within convoluted race 11 and housed in bearing guide 5, thereby creating revolution of plastic/metal tip 8 that is returned to a starting position by main spring 3.

Many variations and modifications may be made to the invention without departing from the spirit thereof. The scope of other changes will become apparent from the attached claims. No limitation with respect to the specific device illustrated herein is intended or should be inferred. 

1. A rotational remover comprising: a body assembly including a main spring; a tip drive assembly including a tip, a bearing guide having a threaded barrel at the front end which receives the tip, a center section which receives at least three ball bearings and a spring pivot. The ball bearings are housed in the tip drive assembly rolling in the bearing guide and within the convoluted race formed in the body front assembly. The spring pivot is housed in the body assembly between the main spring and the bearing guide, and the depression of the body assembly in a vertical movement actuates the ball bearings within the convoluted bearing race, thereby rotating a tip received in the bearing guide in a rotational movement; and wherein the main spring provides resistance for and returns the tip drive assembly to a starting position after the body assembly is vertically depressed.
 2. A rotational remover according to claim 1, wherein the body assembly is repeatedly depressed to remove more surface area by additional rotations of the tip when the ball bearings are actuated within the convoluted bearing race.
 3. A rotational remover comprising: a body assembly including a main spring; a tip drive assembly including a tip, a bearing guide having a threaded barrel at the front end which receives a tip, a center section which receives at least three ball bearings and a spring pivot. The ball bearings are housed in the tip drive assembly rolling in the bearing guide and within the convoluted race formed in the body front assembly. The spring pivot is housed in the body assembly between the main spring and the bearing guide, and the depression of the body assembly in a vertical movement actuates the ball bearings within the convoluted bearing race, thereby rotating a tip received in the tip holder in a rotational movement.
 4. A rotational remover according to claim 3, further comprising a spring pivot.
 5. A rotational remover according to claim 3, further comprising a bearing guide configured to receive the tip.
 6. A rotational remover according to claim 3, wherein the tip is manufactured from plastic.
 7. A rotational remover according to claim 3, wherein the tip is manufactured from metal.
 8. A rotational remover according to claim 3, wherein formed on the topmost part of the tip is a serrated, abrasive surface.
 9. A rotational remover according to claim 3, wherein the tip is replaceable.
 10. A rotational remover according to claim 3, wherein the body assembly is repeatedly depressed to remove more surface area by additional rotations of the tip when the ball bearings are actuated within the convoluted bearing race.
 11. A rotational remover according to claim 3, wherein the main spring provides resistance for and returns the tip drive assembly to a starting position after the body assembly is vertically depressed. 